Ligature package



Jan. 27, 1959 R. B. HARKNEss ETAL 2,870,905

LIGATURE PACKAGE Filed sept. 2e, '195s ,@mo Ham, Ehem-n E. .fn-cig,

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United States Patent C) 2,810,906 LiGATURE PACKAGE `Reed B. Harkness,University City, and Eleanor E. Lacey,`

`Application September 26, 1956, Serial No. 612,256 Z Claims. (Cl.M16-63.3)

This invention relates to ligature packages, and more particularly to apackage containing a wound or coiled sterile ligature.

Among `the several objects of the invention may be noted the provisionof atnovel ligature package containing an individual sterile ligaturefrom which the ligature may be` delivered directly to a sterile tablewithout any handling by a nurse and without having to break any glasstube, thereby eliminating the danger of broken glass on the steriletable; the provision ofv a ligature package of a novel constructioncomprising a tube having a removable closure which is formed to receiveone end of a ligature contained in the tube, the arrangement being suchthat this end of the ligature projects from the tube when the closure isremoved so that this end of the ligature may be readily grasped toremove the ligature from the tube; the provision of a ligature packageof the character described wherein the closure is a stopper and whereinthe tube and stopper are formed to resist endwse movement of the stopperout of the tube unless the stopper is first tilted relative to the tube,thereby insuring that the package remains sealed and the ligatureremains sterile; :and the provision of a ligature package having thestated features which is economical to manufacture. Other objects andfeatures will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the constructions hereinafterdescribed, the scope of the invention being indicated in the followingclaims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which one of various possibleembodiments of the invention are illustrated,

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal cross section of a ligature package of thisinvention;

Fig. 2 is a transverse cross section taken on line 2 2 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a view in elevation of the package showing in dotted lines howthe stopper thereof is tilted for removal.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding partsthroughout the several views of the drawlugs.

Referring to the drawings, a ligature package P of this invention isshown to comprise a cylindrical tube 1, which is preferably Ia rigidtransparent tube made of glass. This has a closed end 3 and an open end5. At its open end, the tube is formed with an inwardly directed annularbead 7. This may be formed by flaming the open end of the tube.

At 9 is indicated a removable closure or stopper for the open end of thetube 1. This stopper is preferably molded of plastic material, such aspolyethylene. It is of elongate tubular form, open at one end (its innerend) as indicated at 11, and closed at its other end (its outer end) asindicated at 13, having an elongate recess R which opens into the tubeand extends beyond the open end of the tube. Intermediate its ends, andnearer its open end than its closed end, the stopper has an integraloutwardly projecting flange 15 which engages the tube 1 at its open end.The outer diameter of this ange preferably cor- ICC responds to theexternal diameter of the tube 1. The recess R extends beyond the flange15.

The portion of the stopper between the flange 15 andthe closed end ofthe stopper is preferably relatively thickwalled as indicated at 17, sothat this portion of the stopper is relatively rigid. The portion of thestopper between the ilange 15 and the open end of the stopper isrelatively thin-walled so as to be resilient and constitutes an annularresilient skirt 19 which fits into the open end of the tube 1. Thisskirt has an external annular convex ridge 21 adjacent the flange 15providing a shallow annular groove 23 immediately adjacent the llange 15for receiving the bead 7 at the open end of the tube 1.

The external diameter of the ridge 21 of the stopper is larger than theinternal diameter of the annular bead 7, and slightly larger than theinternal diameter of the tube 1 below the bead. Upon entry of the skirt19 of the stopper in the open end of the tube, the skirt is somewhatcompressed as the ridge 21 slides past the bead 7. Then the skirtexpands to `provide for a tight lit of the ridge within the tube, andlocking of the bead 7 in the groove Z3.

There is indicated at 25 in the tube 1 a wound or coiled ligature. TheVcoil 25 is surrounded by a wrapper 27, which may be a paper labelprinted to designate the type of ligature. An end portion 29 of theligature extends around the bottom edge of the wrapper label and up onthe outside of the wrapper or label and reaches into the recess R in thestopper, extending beyond the open end of the tube 1. A seal of wax orany other suitable material may be yapplied as indicated at 31hermetically to seal the stopper to the tube. It will be understood thatthe ligature is sealed in the package P in sterile condition. Thepackage P may or may not contain an asepticizing liquid. The tight fitof the stopper and locking of the stopper in the tube with the flange 15engaging the end of the tube and the provision of the seal 31 is mosteffective to maintain the ligature sterile.

-It will be understood that the package P may be used in a containersuch as is shown in our copending application entitled Ligature Package,Serial No. 356,762, tiled May 22, 1953, issued as Patent No. 2,788,893,April 16, 1957, in place of the glass ligature tube shown therein. Suchcontainers, in the course of shipping and handling, are subjected tojostling which would tend to make the stopper 9 move endwse out of thetube 1 and break the seal 31 were it not for the interlock between thestopper and tube provided by the engagement of the bead 7 in the groove23. While this interlocking makes the stopper dicult to remove by adirect endwse pull, the stopper is easy to remove by tilting it relativeto the tube as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3 to disengage the grooveand bead (and break the seal). In the case of a package P containingasepticizing liquid, it is also desirable that removal of the stopper bya direct pull be made ditlcult to induce its removal by 4tilting therebyto avoid splashing the liquid, if any.

Upon removal of the stopper, the end of portion 29 of the ligatureprojects from the tube 1 and may be readily grasped to pull out thecoiled ligature (and the wrapper or label) from the tube. Thearrangement with portion 29 of the ligature extending up on the outsideof the wrapper or label, as distinguished from having the wrapper orlabel surround portion 29, is important to insure that the coil comesout without: unwinding.

In view of the above, it will be4 seen that the several objects of theinvention are achieved and other' advantageous results attained.

As various changes could be made in the above constructions withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention, it is intended that allmatter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanyingdraw- 3 ings shall be interpreted as rillustrativeand `not in a limitingsense.

We claim:

Y 1. A ligature package comprising an-elo'ngate cylindrical tube havinga'closed end and an open end;v said tube having an inwardly directedannular bead atits open end, an elongate stopper for the open end of thetube, said stopper having an outwardly projecting ilange intermediateits endsengaging the tube atits open end, said stopper having aArecessopening into the tube and extending outward beyond theilnge, theportion of the stopper inward of theangecomprising an-annular resilientskirt: ittingin the open end of the tube, said skirt adjacent the flangehaving an external annular ridge providing argroov'e adjacent the'angefor receiving the bead, and a ligature `in the tube having. at least oneend projecting into the recess, said en'd of the ligature projectingfrom the tube'whenthestopper is removed.

2. A ligature package comprising an elongate cylindrical glass tubehaving a closed end and an open end, said tube having an Vinwardlydirected annular bead at its open end, an'elongate plastic stopper forthe'open end of the tube, said stopper having anoutwardly projectingangel intermediatefits endsengaging theftube at its open end, saidstopper having a recess opening into the tube and extending outwardbeyond the flange, the portion of the stopper outward of the ange beingrelatively thick-Walled and hence relatively rigid, the portion of thestopper inward of the Harige-being relatively thin-walled and hencecomprising an annular resilient skirt fitting in the open end of thetube, said skirt adjacent the flange having ari-external annularridge-providing a groove adjacent the flange for receiving the bead, acoiled'ligature inthe tube', and a paper label wrapped around the coil,an end portion of the ligature extending from within the label down andarurid to the outside of the label and thence up into the recess, theend of said portion of the ligature projecting fronithe' tube when thestopper is removed.

References 'cited-riante meof'this .patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 523,139Armstrong f July 17, 1894 534,390 Fraley Feb. 19, -1895 55v4;041Stratton Feb. 4, 1896 1,707,328 Solbue Apr. 2, 1929

